advances to the American professional baseball major league (MLB), there are not a few people who expect success. But few imagined he would be valued more for his talent on defense than on hitting as he is now.안전놀이터
Kim Ha-seong, who was one of the final three in the National League (NL) shortstop Gold Glove last year, has moved to second base this season, but is still recognized for his high defensive value.
The American media, The Athletic, predicted on the 5th (Korean time) whether Kim Ha-seong will be able to win the Gold Glove. He said that despite San Diego’s inconsistent batting ability, he was consistently active in defense, and that Ha-seong Kim was at the center of it.
The Gold Glove is an award given to a total of 20 people, 10 of whom played the best defense in each position and utility player in the two major leagues in MLB. It is a method of selecting the winner by adding the votes (75%) of managers and coaching staff of 30 clubs and the defensive index (SDI 25%) developed by the Association for American Baseball Research (SABR).
Kim Ha-seong, who was nominated for the NL shortstop last year, was not honored with the award because he was pushed by Dansby Swanson (Chicago Cubs).
This year, while Zander Bogatz has secured the position of shortstop, Kim Ha-seong has moved to second base, but he is evaluated to be playing the best defense in the league. Based on this, The Athletic is recording the highest DRS (Defensive Run Save) of 13 while occupying all three positions, and OAA (Outs Above Average) of 5, which is league 2 in this category. He presented evidence that he was second in the team after Wie Bogatz (7).
Then, the media explained, “Ha-seong Kim initially expected potential on the offensive side at the time of signing with San Diego, but he can become the first Korean player to win the best defense award in the big leagues.” Ha-seong Kim also said, “At first, I didn’t think I would become a gold glove here,” but “As I entered my third year, I started to realize that I could win an award. If I work hard, the reward will follow.”
He thought the same was true of his teammates who looked directly at him while playing on the same team. “It doesn’t matter where you are. He wants to be the best defender,” said Manny Machado, a two-time Gold Glove winner and close friend of Ha-Sung Kim. “I learned from two people (defensive coach and Machado), but in the end it came out of him. That’s what he wanted.”
Machado expressed doubts about Ha-sung Kim not receiving the Gold Glove last year. “This year will definitely be his year,” he said.
Previously, San Diego manager Bob Melvin expressed the same expectations as Machado. He said, “It’s really amazing. As a shortstop, I’m familiar with everything, but now I look like a gold glove at second base.”
Ha-seong Kim also shows satisfaction in playing as a second baseman. One of the reasons for this was that he could throw from any position with less throwing burden compared to shortstops, which gave him a wider range of defense.
“It took him some time to get comfortable,” said Melvin, but said that the team’s internal defense index for Kim Ha-sung was evaluated as favorably as DRS.
Ichiro Suzuki (Japan, outfielder) is the only Asian player to have won the MLB Gold Glove. If you narrow down the range to infielders, there was not a single player. Last year, Kim Ha-seong was the first to be nominated for the final nomination. Ha-seong Kim is putting on a rain show every day to write a new history in Asian baseball.